Springborg announces new health ombudsman for Qld

Queensland Health Minister Lawrence Springborg says there will be a shake-up of how medical complaints are handled in the state.

Mr Springborg says a panel of health experts reviewed about 600 cases and found that 60 per cent of those were not handled in a timely and appropriate way.

He says an expert review has found one complaint took more than six years to investigate.

"This is not good enough and frankly, things are going to change," he said.

Mr Springborg says a new position of Queensland health ombudsman will be created to decide which authority will investigate complaints.

He denies that will be an extra level of bureaucracy and says the process will be streamlined.

The Minister says the report paints a disturbing picture of how the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the Medical Board operate.

"The panel said AHPRA and the Medical Board afforded much more lenient treatment to doctors than other regulated professions," he said.

'Maze of confusion'

"These findings raise serious doubt about the ability of the medical board, AHPRA, and the existing health complaints management system to protect the public.

Mr Springborg says the health ombudsman will determine which agency will investigate matters, to stop what he has described as a merry-go-round.

"The important thing for the ombudsman is to actually be the watchdog, to be the referral centre and the watchdog, to make sure the intent of the legislation is carried through," he said.

"At the moment you have got a maze of confusion."

The Queensland Nurses' Union says it is concerned a new ombudsman could add a layer of bureaucracy.

But union spokeswoman Beth Mohle says members will support the change if it streamlines the process.

"If it is just a case that this is going to provide a mechanism whereby complaints are dealt with quickly and get sent to the appropriate authority and get dealt with expeditiously, well the QNU would welcome that," she said.